Bishop Carla Blakley
The Rev. Carla Blakley is a respected figure within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), currently serving as the Bishop of the Eastern Synod. With a career spanning over 27 years, she has dedicated her ministry to fostering inclusivity, social justice, and community engagement.
Prior to her election as Bishop, Rev. Blakley served in various leadership roles that have shaped her broad perspective. She was the pastor at the Lakeview United Ecumenical partnership and the Yellow Grass United Lutheran Partnership. Her experience also includes serving as the Assistant to the National Lutheran Bishop for the ELCIC in South and Central America and as the Community Relations Director for Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
Her ministry is marked by a deep commitment to pastoral care, with extensive training in grief counseling. She is a vocal advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and works towards deconstructing theological frameworks that have upheld discrimination.
Rev. Blakley holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies, in addition to a Master of Divinity from Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in ecumenical and interfaith work, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and focusing on shared values across different denominations.
Rev. Carla Blakley was elected as the Bishop of the Eastern Synod at the 2024 Eastern Synod Assembly.